Category Archives: Anthology

My collected writings and those of family members.

1987: A Mark Twain Anecdote

Posted on October 7, 2018 by JMN

[In a letter to my mother I cite the following quotation from “God’s Fool,” the biography of Twain that I was reading. ] I do seem to have a whole lot of interest in a lot of arts and things. … Continue reading →

Posted in Anthology | Tagged | 2 Comments

1987 Correspondence: “The other topic…” [redacted]

Posted on October 3, 2018 by JMN

[Dear Mother,] The other topic grabbed me almost as I was leaving Philadelphia. I picked up a hotel copy of the Inquirer and sort of skimmed the article about [Name] resigning as head of [Organization], which means, apparently, either “[Phrase]” … Continue reading →

Posted in Anthology | Tagged | Leave a comment

Boosler, Eisenberg, Cage, Aznavour, Hockney

Posted on October 3, 2018 by JMN

Men, she sighs, expect her to cook breakfast the morning after sex. “They want things like toast,” she says, exasperated. “I don’t have these recipes.” (Jason Zinoman, “The Comedy Master Who Hasn’t Gotten Her Due: Elayne Boosler,” NYTimes, 10-1-18) “I … Continue reading →

Posted in Anthology, Quotations | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Old Mother Goose

Posted on October 1, 2018 by JMN

This is a painting based on a badly faded image in an old children’s book I possess. The image is an illustration by Anne Anderson, a Scottish illustrator (1874-1952). It’s intriguing in various ways, prominent of which for me is … Continue reading →

Posted in Anthology, Commentary | Tagged | 1 Comment

Tip #2 for the Male Homemaker

Posted on September 30, 2018 by JMN

For the infrequent occasions when your dog doesn’t make it through the night and poops in her usual spot on the tile floor in front of the fireplace, an ancient ash shovel and a metal dustpan are of the essence. … Continue reading →

Posted in Anthology, Commentary | Tagged | Leave a comment

Bodily Fluid Clean-up Kit

Posted on September 30, 2018 by JMN

The latest Food Service Inspection Report is published in my local newspaper, and it strikes chillingly close to home. “Moo Moo” is a decades-old fast-food joint specializing in fried chicken and burgers. Once a week, on “Wacky Wednesday,” you can … Continue reading →

Posted in Anthology, Commentary | Tagged | 5 Comments

Yo-Yo Ma, America’s Cellist

Posted on September 28, 2018 by JMN

And what Mr. Ma plays at moments like those [i.e. historic occasions], to make us cry and then soothe us, is, more often than not, a selection from the Bach cello suites. These six works are the Everest of his … Continue reading →

Posted in Anthology, Quotations | Tagged | Leave a comment

1987: There are two “topics” on my mind…

Posted on September 23, 2018 by JMN

[Dear Mother,] There are two “topics” on my mind. One results from watching the C-Span show where people call in from all over the country, usually to a group of journalists. I’ve seen it twice in the last several days; … Continue reading →

Posted in Anthology | Tagged | Leave a comment

Liberties Taken

Posted on September 22, 2018 by JMN

I want to think out loud about how poetry works, but without being too scrupulous about terminology. It just slows me down to try to re-research what the proper name for everything is. For a specimen I want to take … Continue reading →

Posted in Anthology, Commentary | Tagged | Leave a comment

Family Treesome, Stag Country

Posted on September 20, 2018 by JMN

When Angel Boorschagle’s momma died, her daddy Otto Pavlicheck married a Subaville girl half his age named Madaleen Pope. Madaleen had their baby Travis the same week Angel’s son Wade was born. Otto got backed over by the stock trailer … Continue reading →

Posted in Anthology | Tagged | Leave a comment